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We examine some theories about why Wahlberg is being largely overlooked this awards season.
By Ryan J. Downey
Mark Wahlberg
Photo: Mike Coppola/ Getty Images
There will be no Oscar for Mark Wahlberg's performance in "The Fighter." Despite the constant reminder in the film's television spots that Mark's character was the one fighting ("Nawt you, nawt you and nawt you!"), the guy playing the role referenced in the film's very title has been largely overlooked this awards season.
A nomination in the Best Actor category at the Golden Globes and inclusion in the movie's numerous ensemble nods notwithstanding, the guy who passionately worked to bring the true story of "Irish" Mickey Ward to the screen as producer and star remains empty-handed for his own performance. "The Fighter" was gritty, visceral, funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming, and a lot of that has to do with Wahlberg's lead role, so what went wrong? Here are a few theories:
He's Already Been Rewarded
As producer and star of "The Fighter" and champion of the real-life boxers portrayed by him and Bale, Wahlberg has gotten to sit back and enjoy the numerous noms lavished on the rest of the cast and the movie in general. It's possible that Academy voters figure that since "The Fighter" is such a personal movie for Wahlberg, he's been rewarded enough through the recognition the flick has gotten in all these other ways. Perhaps folks think a Best Picture nomination for "The Fighter" doubles as love for Wahlberg, as it's very much his movie in the end.
In its analysis, the "Today" show supported this theory, chalking up Wahlberg's absence to "dilution" from the expanded Best Picture category. "Christian Bale got nominated for playing Mark Wahlberg's brother, Amy Adams got nominated for playing his girlfriend, Melissa Leo got nominated for playing his mom, and Wahlberg himself got nominated for... Nothing. As an actor, that is," Joal Ryan wrote, pointing out, "Wahlberg is up for Best Picture for producing."
But Movieline's Alonso Duralde cautioned against the notion that the Oscars set out to shortchange any particular person. "If there's anything I've learned in my years of voting with the L.A. Film Critics Association, [it's that] it's all random and chaotic," he told MTV News. "We often attribute things to 'the Academy likes this, or the Academy likes that'— but it's all about individuals. It may just be that there were five performances that people liked better. For all we know, [Wahlberg] came in sixth by two votes."
Christian Bale Got the Juicier Role
"Wahlberg turned in a wicked pissah performance as boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward in 'The Fighter' and figured to be a shoo-in for Best Actah, but failed to get an Oscah nawd," Mark Marino joked over at NextMovie.com. "Meanwhile, as in the film, co-star Christian Bale continues to get all the attention as Dicky Eklund."
As Mickey's trainer brother, Bale sinks his teeth into crack addiction, familial strife, greed, despair, empathy and even a few prison scenes in "The Fighter."
As Bale said so eloquently at the Golden Globes as he accepted the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama prize: "I really gotta give a shout-out to Mark, because he drove this whole movie. And you can only give a loud performance like the one I gave when you have a quiet anchor and a stoic character. I've played that one many times, and it never gets any notice."
FilmDrunk editor in chief/ co-founder Vince Mancini agreed with Bale. "Everybody else has a very showy sort of role," Mancini told MTV News. "I just don't think Academy voters necessarily recognize subtlety in acting. Traditionally, they recognize stuff that is big and very obvious. I don't think Wahlberg's [performance] was that."
"I have always said that the Academy likes acting that it can quantify," Duralde reasoned. "They like to be able to put it on a scale and say, 'Look at this nose, look at this accent, look at all this weight you lost. You're pretty, but you did this role without makeup.' They can put a finger on that. The subtler stuff doesn't get noticed as much because it's not as showy."
How Much Acting Is He Really Doing?
Undeniably, the actor and producer has a strong personal connection with these people and this story. But does that mean he wasn't acting his ass off? Does everything need to be some big stretch?
"I would say this is closely related to [what Bale said]," Mancini pointed out. "The part that's acting [for Wahlberg] might not be blatantly obvious to people."
Duralde likened this theory to some of the talk back in 1997. "You had this great comic performance by Rupert Everett in 'My Best Friend's Wedding,' but I think people were like, 'He's playing a gay guy and he's gay, so how much work could that be?' " he lamented, pointing out that Marsha Mason was nominated for 1979's "Chapter Two" where she played a character based on her own life.
And So ...
Whatever the reason, or reasons, for Wahlberg's notable absence from the acting category at most of the major awards, it's a safe bet that the reception to the film overall offers some satisfaction.
"It has been such an incredible journey with 'The Fighter' and one that I am grateful to share with David O. Russell, Christian, Melissa, Amy, my fellow producers and the Ward and Eklund families, who are the heart and soul of the film," Wahlberg said in a statement after the Oscar nominations were announced. "Thank you to the Academy for this tremendous honor."
Check out everything we've got on "The Fighter."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Space-age Best Buy ad also features Ozzy's wife, Sharon.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber on the set of his Best Buy ad
Photo: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
What happens when the Blizzard of Oz meets the Bieber? You'll find out on Super Bowl Sunday when Best Buy unveils a commercial co-starring Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Justin Bieber.
Best Buy confirmed on Wednesday that Grammy-nominated pop superstar Bieber will take his place alongside the metal legend and his equally famous chat hostess wife for the retail chain's first-ever ad during the big game, according to Sun tabloid ran a photo on Thursday (January 27) that was purportedly shot on the set of the ad, in which the unlikely trio are dressed in black-and-silver futuristic space suits.
It won't be the only time you see Bieber on Super Bowl Sunday, as an ad for his upcoming 3-D concert movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," will also pop up at some point after the most-watched telecast of the year, during an episode of "Glee."
The film opens one week later, on Valentine's Day weekend. This is not the first time Bieber has teamed up with a major sporting event to support a release. During Game 3 of last year's World Series, the teen pop star debuted a mini-music video for the unplugged version of his song "Never Say Never" to promote his acoustic album, My Worlds Acoustic.
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Filed under: NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive
After a stellar performance at the D-League National Tryout, FanHouse's own Jordan Schultz was one of ten (out of 200) callbacks to the Idaho Stampede tryout in Boise. With the competition stiffened, find out how the former all-state and college shooting guard handled the pressures, one step closer to realizing the D-League dream.
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/29/fanhouse-tv-d-league-episode-11/
Kelly Carlson Kelly Clarkson Kelly Hu Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa Kelly Rowland
'We're just so thrilled she took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to do it,' singer tells 'Access Hollywood' of 'Hello, Hello.'
By James Dinh
Lady Gaga and Elton John
Photo: Kevin Kane/ WireImage
Lady Gaga previewed a remixed cut from her new album, Born This Way, last week, and on February 8, the pop star's "Gnomeo & Juliet" duet with Elton John will arrive.
After gushing about Gaga's performance at his White Tie & Tiara Ball charity event last year, John told "Access Hollywood" that he approached the singer about singing on "Hello, Hello."
"We became friends, and I adore her," he said. "I told her about the song, and she said, 'I'd love to do it,' and she did it. We're just so thrilled she took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to do it."
John said Gaga put her own spin on the pop tune, which he produced with longtime partner David Furnish. "She had fun with it and changed it a little bit and brought her own personality to it, so she gave Juliet that personality," he said.
The singer/songwriter was also pleased about another lady who joined him on the soundtrack. "It was always going to be a duet, and it's like, 'Who am I going to sing this with?' " John recalled thinking about "Hello, Hello." "It turned out to be Gaga, and then at the end of the film, I sing with Nelly Furtado, so it's like two great girls on one soundtrack, so I'm thrilled."
Amazon has uploaded a preview of the song, but the clip only includes Elton's part.
It's no surprise that the song has already received praise from one of Gaga's biggest supporters, Perez Hilton. On Monday (January 24), after attending the "Gnomeo & Juliet" world premiere, the blogger wrote: "We are pleased to report that the Elton and Gaga duet, 'Hello Hello,' is an A+. Such a lovely song! It actually reminds us of classic Beatles!"
Are you excited to hear "Hello, Hello"? Tell us in the comments!
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Usher, Jaden Smith, B.o.B, Janelle Monae and Lady Antebellum will also perform on February 13.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Usher
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
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